Japan

Released: October 24, 1980

Songwriter: Smokey Robinson Marv Tarplin Warren “Pete” Moore Robert “Bobby” Rogers

Producer: John Punter

[Verse 1]
You do me wrong but still I'm crazy about you
Stay away too long when I can't live without you
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
But hurt just makes my love grow stronger than before
I know flowers grow in the rain
But how can love grow in the pain?

[Chorus]
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiarity
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiar as can be

[Verse 2]
You tell me lies
And should be honest to me
I'm so much in love
That I don't have to see
Things you do and say
Are designed to make me blue
It's a doggone darn shame
My love will make all your lies seem true
If the truth makes love last longer
Why do lies make love stronger?

[Chorus]
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiarity
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiar as can be

[Instrumental]

[Verse 3]
I cry so much just like a child who's lost his toy
Maybe baby, you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
A child can cry so much, you do anything you say
When like a child, my tears don't help me get my way
I know love can last through years
How can love last through tears?

[Chorus]
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiarity
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiarity
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiarity
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiarity
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiarity
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar? Ain't that peculiar?
Ain't that peculiar? Ain't that peculiar?
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiarity
Ain't that peculiar? Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar? Ain't that peculiar?
Ain't that peculiar? Ain't that peculiar?
Ain't that peculiar? Ain't that peculiar?

Japan gained significant commercial success in the early 1980s with hit singles like “Ghosts” and albums like Tin Drum and Gentlemen Take Polaroids, as well as the live album Oil On Canvas in 1983, becoming pioneers of New Wave and, reluctantly, the New Romantic movement.

However, the London-based band, which formed in 1974, began life as a glam-funk outfit. Their first two albums, Adolescent Sex and Obscure Alternatives were poorly received in their native UK but did find favour among Japanese and European audiences.

For their third album, Quiet Life, they completely shifted gears, moving towards a more synthpop and New Wave-oriented direction. This change of sound had already been hinted at by their 1979 disco hit single, “Life in Tokyo. Many of Japan’s defining features developed in this period: David Sylvian’s Bryan Ferry-esque croon, Mick Karn’s rubbery fretless bass, Richard Barbieri and Rob Dean’s atmospheric synth and guitar work and Steve Jansen’s unique drumming. While the album might not have been very successful when it was released, it has since become regarded as one of the most important and influential albums of its genre, being cited as an influence by a number of artists including Duran Duran.

From the album

Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980)

Japan popular songs

Ain’t That PeculiarJapan

Japan